The value of community and our concern for the common good underpin our decision to create The Center for Access and Success at Elon University. The purpose of The Center is to help students from all backgrounds to have access to and succeed in higher education. We serve individuals in our Elon University community and our surrounding communities from pre-K to adults through our current initiatives: It Takes a Village Project, Elon Academy, Odyssey Program, First-Generation Student Support Services, iBelong, and Beyond 12.

  • The expanded “It Takes a Village” Project, locally known simply as the Village Project, is a district-wide tutoring initiative spearheaded by the Center for Access and Success on the campus of Elon University. The expanded Village Project works collaboratively with Elon tutors, Alamance County teachers and principals in an effort to improve the academic attainment of elementary grade students in the 12 Title I schools from surrounding Alamance County communities. The Village design focuses heavily on academic outcomes, instructional materials, attendance, quality of instructors, parental involvement and other enriching opportunities.
  • At the high school level, Elon Academy is a college access and success program for academically promising high school students in the Alamance County community who demonstrate a financial need and/or no family history of college. The Academy provides academic, emotional, social and financial support to scholars and families to and through college.
  • At the college level, Odyssey Program assists students who are poised to take advantage of an Elon education but for whom this possibility might not be an option for financial reasons. The four-year programs empower students through peer and administrative support to ensure that they have the opportunity to fully participate in the many rich experiences of college and to contribute to the intellectual and social climate of the university through their active campus citizenship.
  • First-Generation Student Support Services is an initiative that supports students who are among the first members of their families to attend college. Through this initiative, first-generation college students engage in a number of academic and social programs to promote students’ transition to and through college. The initiative’s goal is to create a culture where the first-generation community feels supported, empowered, and celebrated throughout Elon University’s campus.
  • iBelong Mentoring Program provides funding to implement a strategy designed to increase persistence, retention, and/or graduation rates of first- and second-year students particularly those from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities on campus through programmatic efforts to mentor, coach, and to make forums available for the students to explore various career opportunities.
  • Beyond 12 aims to directly address the urgent college and career readiness challenge by initially impacting students across three Title I middle schools in Alamance County. Beyond 12 is a comprehensive and complimentary set of activities developed in partnership with the Alamance Burlington School System and the principals at each school that includes structured experiential learning intended to bring about increased knowledge and interest in college and career opportunities, reinforcement of academic habits and preparedness, and engagement of students in executive functioning skills.